Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Tony felt himself collide into the concrete even before he actually hit it; the surge of pain went bone-deep, and for a moment, Tony thinks it’s enough for him to forget the pain the reactor core is currently emitting on his heart. He can hear JARVIS’ broken speech, almost pleading for Tony to stop, to recharge his batteries—to rest. But Tony’s pushing himself back up again, ignoring the pain in his chest and the way his vision had momentarily gone dark at the edges.

And then there’s a snap as his back hits the concrete again. There’s claw at his throat, gripping tighter, crushing his circuits and cracking the screen. Tony struggles for breath and for control, but he can hardly move.

“Stop struggling and die,” says the Skrull, squeezing tighter.

No, Tony thinks at once. He can’t die here. He can’t. Not now. Not when he had so much more to live for now.

“I love you,” Steve’s voice comes loud an clear, the words still fresh in Tony’s mind, re-energizing him, giving him a sense a purpose like everything Steve’s being does. “We’ll talk about this when it’s over.”

That’s right. They made a promise. When this was all over… they were going to finally be together. For real this time. No more lies. No more hiding. Just the two of them.

“JARVIS,” says Tony at once. “Revert all power to the reactor.”

“But sir,” says the program, protesting, “in your condition, the chances of you—”

“Just do it, JARVIS,” Tony bites out. Tony hears the reactor core responding to his command, and Tony only has a moment to think of Steve, to regret that he might possibly be breaking his promise—before everything goes white and Tony sees no more.

******

“We did it, Cap!” he hears Ms. Marvel over the intercom. “They’re retreating!”

Steve swings his shield, slamming hard against the enemy and knocking them flat. He feels a swell of relief at Carol’s words. “Good job,” he says into the com. “Tell the rest of the team to finish securing their section. And then we’ll rendez-vous at the meet point.” 

Carol murmurs an agreement before signing out. Steve turns back to the rest of the Skrulls that’s still waiting in line to fight. There’s still more, so much more until it was finally over, but Steve feels a renewed sense of purpose, of confidence, take over him.

When this was all over, he can see Tony and they can finally talk. The thought makes him grin.

“Alright, which one of you guys wants to get their ass kicked first?” asks Steve before charging dead ahead, shield in hand.

******

And somewhere far away, Tony’s heart had stopped beating.


Continuation of this and this. Might be concluding this soon.

Tony can feel the Earth rumble beneath his feet; all around him buildings were crumbling, fire and smoke were rising in the air and the echo of a hundred explosions rung loud and clear. He can’t remember how many Skrulls he’s taken down or how many of their weaponry he’s managed to destroy, but it feels endless.

His armor is already falling apart, his muscles strained beneath the metal, and his chest was now an insistent burn and ache of exhaustion. But he can’t stop just now. So many people were depending on him, so many things were at stake, so many things that required his protection… he could not afford to rest now.

He can faintly hear JARVIS telling him he had to recharge his heart soon, that the suit was slowly losing power. But Tony ignores the program’s warnings and instead dials a different number.

“Iron Man?” comes Cap’s voice instantly. “Tony, are you alright? Is everything okay?” The concern and sudden alertness is tangible, even though the screen.

“I’m fine,” says Tony, forcing his breathing to be even. “Just wanted to make sure everything was okay on your end.”

“We’re alright,” says Steve, sounding slightly relieved. “Where are you?”

“Not sure,” says Tony, looking around for familiar ground, but everything’s mostly been destroyed. “I think I’m near—” he gasps as a spike of pain shoots up his chest from the reactor core. For a moment he can barely breathe and his vision goes white. 

“Tony? Tony?” Steve’s voice is louder, the tension back. Tony can hear him running. “Tony what’s the matter? Answer me, please.”

“I’m… I’m alright,” Tony wheezes, regaining some semblance of composure. “Just… a bit run down that’s all,” he assures with a laugh.

“Give me your coordinates,” says Steve at once. “I’ll come get you.”

“No,” says Tony instantly. “You’re needed there. I’ll be fine.” He can hear Steve starting to argue, so he interrupts quickly, “But that’s not why I called. I wanted to say… just in case… just in case this all doesn’t work out—”

“Tony, stop talking like that,” says Steve firmly. “Everything’s going to be fine. You’re going to be fine.” That last part sounded like a promise. It makes Tony smile despite the pain in his chest.

“Always the optimist,” he teases.

“Someone has to be,” Steve retorts fondly. “You’re too much of a pessimist.”

“With good reason,” says Tony lightly, but then he sobers. “But just in case… I wanted you to know—”

“Tony—” Steve’s voice warns.

“I love you,” says Tony and he swears he can hear Steve stop moving. Stop breathing. Tony takes a deep breath. “I love you, Steve. I always have. And I know you don’t feel the same way—”

“I love you too—”

“—but I just wanted you to know in case I… I what?” says Tony, blinking in surprise.

“I love you too,” Steve repeats, and there’s a smile in his voice. When Tony doesn’t say anything—too dumfounded to say anything at all—Steve says, a little sheepish, shy. “I… I thought it was obvious.”

Tony feels something in midst the pain in his chest: something fluttery and soothing, something indescribable… like happiness.

“We’ll talk about this when it’s over,” says Steve finally, still with that note of happiness in his tone.

It makes Tony breathe again. “Alright,” he agrees. “It’s a promise.”